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Saturday, October 11, 2014

The Southern Nebraska Register is honored to exclusively publish this column by Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia. Archbishop Chaput submitted this column in continuance of Bishop Conley’s series on building a culture of life.

History is a useful teacher.

I was a seminarian in Washington, D.C. when Bobby Kennedy was running for the Democratic party’s 1968 presidential nomination. I was also an active volunteer in Kennedy’s campaign. I can still remember helping with secretarial work in the same room where Edward Kennedy and Pierre Salinger labored away on the campaign’s strategy. It was my first involvement in elective politics, and, after the Vietnam Tet Offensive in February and Martin Luther King Jr.’s murder on April 4, Kennedy’s cause seemed urgent. Then, on June 5, Kennedy was gunned down himself.

After Robert Kennedy died, the meaning of the 1968 election seemed to evaporate. I lost interest in politics. I didn’t get involved again until the rise of Jimmy Carter. Carter fascinated me because he seemed like an untypical politician. He was plain spoken, honest, a serious Christian and a Washington outsider. So I supported him during his 1976 campaign when I was a young priest working in Pennsylvania. After his election as president, I went to Denver as a pastor in 1977. I eventually got involved with the 1980 Colorado campaign for Carter’s re-election on the invitation of a parishioner and Democratic party activist, Polly Baca, who was a good friend.

Carter had one serious strike against him. The U.S. Supreme Court had legalized abortion on demand in its 1973 Roe v. Wadedecision, and Carter the candidate waffled about restricting it. At the time, I knew Carter was wrong in his views about Roe and soft toward permissive abortion. But even as a priest, I justified working for him because he wasn’t aggressively “pro-choice.” True, he held a bad position on a vital issue, but I believed he was right on so many more of the “Catholic” issues than his opponent seemed to be. The moral calculus looked easy. I thought we could remedy the abortion problem after Carter was safely returned to office.

Carter lost his bid for re-election, but even with an avowedly prolife Ronald Reagan as president, the belligerence, dishonesty and inflexibility of the abortion lobby has stymied almost every effort to protect unborn human life since.

In the years after the Carter loss, I began to notice that very few of the people, including Catholics, who claimed to be “personally opposed” to abortion, really did anything about it. Nor did they intend to. For most, their personal opposition was little more than pious hand-wringing and a convenient excuse – exactly as it is today.

Why do I mention this now? Back in 2008, a group called “Roman Catholics for Obama ’08” quoted my own published words in the following way:

So can a Catholic in good conscience vote for a pro-choice candidate? The answer is: I can’t, and I won’t. But I do know some serious Catholics – people whom I admire – who may. I think their reasoning is mistaken, but at least they sincerely struggle with the abortion issue, and it causes them real pain. And most important: They don’t keep quiet about it; they don’t give up; they keep lobbying their party and their representatives to change their pro-abortion views and protect the unborn. Catholics can vote for pro-choice candidates if they vote for them despite – not because of – their pro-choice views.

What’s interesting about this quotation, which is accurate but incomplete, is the wording that was left out. The very next sentences in the article of mine they selected, which Roman Catholics for Obama neglected to quote, run as follows:

But [Catholics who support pro-choice candidates] also need a compelling proportionate reason to justify it. What is a “proportionate” reason when it comes to the abortion issue? It’s the kind of reason we will be able to explain, with a clean heart, to the victims of abortion when we meet them face to face in the next life – which we most certainly will. If we’re confident that these victims will accept our motives as something more than an alibi, then we can proceed.

On their website, Roman Catholics for Obama stressed that:

After faithful thought and prayer, we have arrived at the conclusion that Senator Obama is the candidate whose views are most compatible with the Catholic outlook, and we will vote for him because of that – and because of his other outstanding qualities – despite our disagreements with him in specific areas.

I’m familiar with this reasoning. It sounds a lot like me 34 years ago. And 34 years later, we still have a million abortions a year. We also have the most aggressively abortion-friendly White House in history, a coercive HHS mandate and an administration that seems intent on bullying individuals and whole organizations into violating their religious and moral convictions.

Catholics – some naïve, some confused and a few frankly worse – helped to ensure that.

What’s the lesson? People who represent Catholic citizens like you and me, or seek to do so, need to offer more than pious talk about their “personal opposition” to killing unborn children when they ask for Catholic support. They need a plan of action to restrict and eventually end that killing. And then they need to be held accountable. Because we’ve seen what happens when they’re not.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Will Chicago get a red hat before Los Angeles?

The following comes from a Sept. 30 story by Sandro Magister on La Chiesa, part of La Repubblicanewspaper website.While still reeling from the news of the imminent removal of Cardinal Raymond Burke, the more conservative and traditional Catholicism of the United States – and historically the more “papist” – has been dealt another blow with the appointment of the new archbishop of Chicago.

Francis’ selection of Blase Cupich as the new pastor of the third-ranking diocese in the U.S. has plunged this particularly dynamic component of American Catholicism into a profound depression, almost to the edge of a nervous breakdown. It is enough to scan the reactions of the websites and bloggers of this area to grasp the embarrassment and disappointment over the appointment.

On the contrary, the more progressive segment of American Catholicism, historically hypercritical of the recent pontificates, has celebrated with enthusiasm the arrival of Cupich, called a “moderate” by the secular press, a description typically used in the United States to indicate a “liberal” who may not be radicalized, but is still a “liberal.”

Cupich’s predecessor, Cardinal Francis George, had written not long ago in a column for the diocesan newspaper:

“I expect to die in bed, my successor will die in prison and his successor will die a martyr in the public square. His successor will pick up the shards of a ruined society and slowly help rebuild civilization, as the Church has done so often in human history.”

George has always been highly critical of the secular tendency in the legislative field established under the presidency of Barack Obama, whom he has known well since he was a senator for Illinois. But it is difficult to imagine that his prophecy will come true, at least for his immediate successor.

In order to understand this, it is enough to peruse even briefly the ecclesiastical career of the new archbishop of Chicago.

Cupich, 65, is not originally from Chicago, like George, but from Omaha, in the outlying rural state of Nebraska.

His first episcopal see was Rapid City, where he succeeded the conservative Charles Chaput. And it was in this tiny diocese of South Dakota that in 2002 he became noteworthy for prohibiting a traditionalist Catholic community from celebrating the Easter Triduum according to the ancient Roman rite, which was later liberalized in 2007 by Benedict XVI with the motu proprio “Summorum Pontificum.”

Conservative Catholics also remember that during the clash between the bishops of the United States and the White House over health care reform, Cupich was one of the very few prelates, fewer than a dozen, who said not even one word against it, even though the criticism of Obamacare was not a position of some “extremist” bishops or “culture warriors,” as they are often called in a disparaging sense, but the official position of the episcopate.

After being made bishop of Spokane in 2010, the following year Cupich prohibited his priests and deacons from taking part in prayers in front of abortion clinics. A ban in stark contrast with the “mainstream” of the Church in the United States. The Rosary is in fact recited in front of these clinics in almost all the dioceses of the United States. And dozens of bishops participate in them, including, for example, the “moderate” cardinal of Washington, Donald Wuerl, and the current president of the episcopal conference, Louisville archbishop Joseph Kurtz.

Cupich’s voice – as noted both by conservative Catholics, with distress, and by progressives, with satisfaction – always rings out loud and clear when the talk is of immigration or the death penalty, but he seems to get laryngitis every time there is a discussion of abortion, euthanasia, and religious freedom, or criticism of the Obama administration over health care reform.

Significant in this regard is the fact that Cupich decided to expand the scope of the Respect Life office in the diocese of Spokane, to give the fight against the death penalty the same weight as the fight against abortion.

So Cupich seems to be bringing Chicago back to the heyday of Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, George’s predecessor, a champion of “liberal” Catholicism in the United States and the creator of the mountainous bureaucratic machine of the episcopal conference, of which he was president from 1974 to 1977 and “dominus” until his death in 1996.

And the Bernardin era seems to be coming back thanks to a move of Pope Francis, who has taken by surprise and wrongfooted an episcopate, like that of the United States, today widely characterized by appointments made by John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

That it was a surprise can be noted from the fact that a few days before the appointment the newspaper Our Sunday Visitor, the most official of the American Catholic periodicals – its president is the journalist Greg Erlandson, a member of the commission for the reorganization of the Vatican media that met in Rome for the first time last week – in listing eight names of possible successors to Cardinal George did not present the one selected by pope Jorge Mario Bergoglio, that of Cupich.

The fact that the appointment wrongfooted the U.S. episcopate is evident from the results of the elections of the current president and vice-president of the episcopal conference that were held less than a year ago, in November of 2013.

At that electoral cycle, in fact, the ten candidates included Cupich. And his was considered by his colleagues the most distinctly “progressive,” ecclesiasticaly speaking, of the candidacies presented.

So then, at the first round of voting, which saw the immediate election as president of the outgoing vice-president, Archbishop Kurtz, with 125 votes out of 236, Cupich was back in seventh place with only 10 votes.

In the two rounds of voting for the vice-presidency, Cupich was far from being elected, coming in fifth (out of nine) both at the first round, with 24 votes out of 236, and at the second, with 17 votes out of 235.

For Chicago, then, Pope Francis did not take the outlook of the local episcopate into account, unlike for example what he did in Spain, where in Madrid he promoted Carlos Osoro Sierra, who as archbishop of Valencia was elected vice-president of the episcopal conference in the first round last March, with 46 votes out of 79.

Nor does it seem that the pope took account of the recommendations of Cardinal George, who is believed to have asked for a priest of his diocese as coadjutor. Unlike what happened in Sydney, where instead on September 18 Francis appointed the Dominican Anthony Colin Fisher, the protégé of the outgoing archbishop, conservative cardinal George Pell, whom the pope has called to Rome as the czar of the Vatican economic-financial apparatus.

There is only one point on which Francis used the same procedure in Chicago as he did in Madrid and Sydney. In all three cases he proceeded with the appointment without having it discussed first by the cardinals and bishops of the congregation for bishops, even though all of them were confirmed by him last year with significant new additions and just as significant removals (the most sensational of these being that of United States cardinal Burke).

For Chicago, it appears that Pope Francis proceeded with his own personal consultation, parallel to that of the dicastery. The appointment of Cupich is thought to have been recommended to the pope with particular enthusiasm by Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga and above all by Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington, a representative of the “liberal” old guard of the U.S. episcopate.

To tell the truth, it is nothing new in this pontificate for official appointments, even important ones, not to be discussed collegially by the appropriate Vatican congregation. With Benedict XVI there was no discussion over the staffing of Venice (but with Milan, Mechelen-Brussels, Santiago, and Manila there was). With this pontificate, however, procedure seems to be set aside much more frequently.

The congregation was in fact not consulted to examine not only the appointments of Chicago, Sydney, and Madrid, but also, in Germany, the selection of three names to be submitted according to tradition to the chapter of Cologne, as well as all of the appointments, about twenty, for Argentina.

In Italy – to give two examples – the congregation for bishops was not consulted to examine the successors for Locri and Isernia, where the promotions went to the vicars general of two churchmen in the pope’s good graces, respectively of the bishop of Cassano all’Ionio and secretary general of the episcopal conference, Nunzio Galantino, and of the archibishop of Chieti-Vasto and special secretary of the upcoming synod of bishops, Bruno Forte.

Returning to the United States, at this point it will be interesting to see what will happen at the upcoming consistory for the creation of new cardinals.

Currently there are three traditionally cardinalate U.S. dioceses led by an archbishop not yet with the scarlet: Chicago, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia.

It is easy to guess that Pope Francis will grant the biretta to that of Chicago, the only one of the three that he has nominated.

But it will be curious to see if at the same time the scarlet will go to the diocese of Los Angeles, whose ordinary is of the clergy of Opus Dei, or to that of Philadelphia (not both at once, because it seems unthinkable that pope Bergoglio would make three new U.S. cardinals in one fell swoop).

Or if instead, as a further signal sent across the Atlantic, Chicago’s scarlet will be bare. Without any trim.

Monday, June 30, 2014

U.S. Supreme Court Rules in Favour of Hobby Lobby

In 5-4 Decision, Court Says Family Businesses May Claim Religious Exemption from Mandate on Contraception Coverage

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 30, 2014 (Zenit.org) - Religious groups in the United States are celebrating a U.S. Supreme Court decision today which has ruled that closely held companies can claim a religious exemption from the requirement that they offer contraception coverage in their worker health plans.
The justices voted 5-4 in favour of family-run businesses, including the craft-store chain Hobby Lobby Stores Inc., saying that on religious grounds they do not have to mandate the free provision of contraception to their employees, according to Bloomberg News.
The court majority concluded that the Obama administration failed to prove that the so-called HHS mandate is the least restrictive means of advancing its interest in guaranteeing the provision of free access to contraception in health insurance plans.
It also said the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act requires that closely held companies receive the same accommodation the administration has already granted to nonprofit organizations that object to the mandate on religious grounds.
The ruling is a significant advance in the expansion of corporate rights, showing that for-profit companies as well as individuals can claim religious freedoms under federal law.
Safeguarding the religious rights of corporations “protects the religious liberty of the humans who own and control those companies,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the court.
Bloomberg News said the case divided the court along ideological lines. Alito’s majority opinion was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Anthony Kennedy. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan dissented.
The case centered on the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which says the U.S. government may “substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion” only when it meets a demanding test.
The Obama administration argued that the law doesn’t cover corporations and that the government’s interests outweighed any religious rights the corporations possess.
Responding to today’s decision, Human Life International President Father Shenan J. Boquet said the full implications of this decision are not yet known, but this appears to be “at least some good news in the fight for religious freedom.”
"What many found deeply disturbing about this case was not only the assault on religious freedom, but the manipulation of scientific facts in order to support a radical political agenda promoting abortion,” he said in a statement.
"There's scientific consensus that when sperm meets egg and fertilization occurs, a new human life begins. Yet we see our own government and pro-abortion lobbyist groups like American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) play games with the words 'fertilization,' 'conception,' 'pregnancy,' and even 'abortion' to make it seem as though the drugs and devices in question in the Hobby Lobby case don't kill innocent human life-when it's scientific fact that they can, and do destroy new life in the womb.”
Fr. Boquet said not only does the “HHS contraception/sterilization/abortifacient mandate seek to undermine our God-given freedom to practice our faith, the mandate furthers U.S. government support for the greatest human rights abuse in history, using taxpayer dollars to kill preborn human life.
"There's no doubt that legal action will continue on this mandate, and the many other troubling provisions of Obamacare,” Fr. Boquet said. “The American people must make clear to our elected representatives that we will not allow our religious liberty to be violated by our own government, especially in pursuit of an immoral agenda that furthers the erosion of human rights, and ends human lives."

We study the life of American Catholicism in seven different American periods. During the Second Semester we discussed three of these periods, the Industrial, the Cosmopolitan, and the Contemporary.

-The Industrial Period (1865-1921)-

Liberals and Conservatives

The words “Liberalism and Conservatism” have three definitions: THE IDEAL DEFINITION, THE INDUSTRIAL DEFINITION, AND THE MODERN DEFINITION.

Ideal Definition: Liberalism strives for progress and growth, and trying for the better, while Conservatism keeps the good, tried and tested methods for preserving society, while focusing on the good of the past.

The Modern Definition: Liberalism sees Conservatism as judgmental, ridged, merciless, spiritless, acting in blind obedience, and dwelling too much on the past, while Conservatism sees Liberalism as disobedient, abusive, lacking morals, and traditionally, theologically and liturgically impaired.

The Industrial Definition: The Catholic Industrial Definition differences on a shift on emphasis.

Here are some primary examples:

Liberals were pro: action, the here and now, on earth, public schools, separation of church and state, unity, “out of the pews into the streets, bringing redemption abroad”, “Take culture in”, “Take people where they are, give the Faith slowly”, “Flow the Holy Spirit within”, the active virtues (such as feeding the poor, charitable deeds, etc), the natural virtues (purity, justice, kindness), Labor Unions, linked to workers

Conservatives were pro: Contemplation ,hoping for Heaven, Baltimore Councils to the letter, parish schools, unity of church and state, patience, “support parish life and community”, Labor Unions are bad because they are associated with Masonic Groups condemned by the Church, ethnicity (national churches), be cautious about the new, “Don’t hide the truth” “Put all your cards out there”, “Follow external authority”, passive virtues (obedience, submission), supernatural virtues (Faith Hope Charity)

3 Archbishops

Archbishop John Ireland (Liberal)

Archbishop of Saint Paul, MN

Built Saint Thomas College and Saint Paul Seminary

Built Saint Paul Cathedral

Built Pro-Cathedral of Saint Mary in Minneapolis

He swayed the Pope not to excommunicate Father Macglin, who was from New York, and was considered a socialist

Was a fan of Public Schools

Unsupportive of National Parishes

Friend of Cardinal James Gibbons (Baltimore)

Friends with The First Rector of the Pontifical North American College, Rome

Friends with the first president of C.U.A., Father Keen

Friends with Mother Seraphine, the Superioress of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Corondele

Cardinal James Gibbons (Liberal)

Second American Cardinal after Cardinal John McCklosky of NY

The Face of American Catholicism for over 100 years

Wrote a book on the Faith. “Faith of Our Fathers”

Archbishop of Baltimore

The U.S. Capitol building closed to honor his 50th Priesthood Anniversary

He got C.U.A off the ground

Archbishop Michael Corrigan (Conservative)

Archbishop of New York, surprisingly not a cardinal unlike his predecessor

Definition: A Council is a legally convened assembly of ecclesiastical dignitaries, gathered for the purpose of discussing and regulating matters of Church doctrine and discipline.

What is the difference between a Synod and Council? From Trent until after Vatican II Synod and Councils were used interchangeably, but now the distinction is that Synods are more on advisory, while councils are more on putting out decrees.

Kinds of Councils and Synods:

Ecumenical Councils (Convened by the Pope)

General Synods (Advise the Pope-Synod of Bishops)

Plenary Councils (USCCB)

Provincial Council (Metropolitan Archdiocese)

Diocesan Synod (Local bishop/priests/ experts of his diocese)

D. There were 10 councils in Baltimore during a 50 year period:

The Seven Provincial Councils: 1829-1849

The Three Plenary Councils: 1852,1866, 1884

What: The Baltimore Councils were a series of ecclesiastical councils held throughout the 1800’s, and served as opportunities for US Bishops to discuss and deal with pastoral concerns in the US Church.

Who: The Presider of the provincial councils was always the Archbishop of Baltimore as it was the only Archdiocese of the country with a Metropolitan Province for 80 years. After 1850 when there were more US Archdioceses, it became a Plenary Council, but it was still presided by the Archbishop of Baltimore. The the bishops of the US as well as invited prelates, and priests participated.

Where: It was always held in the Cathedral of Baltimore, Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral Basilica. To this day, the annual plenary assembles of USCCB is held in Baltimore.

Why: The idea was originally conceived by Bishop John England, who wanted to promote unity and harmony between the US hierarchy, and it was also planned by Archbishop John Carroll, but it was interrupted by the War of 1812, and thus never came about until 1829. It also was initiated to organize and discipline the US Church.

Provincial Councils (1829-1849):

Selected Main Decrees:

Trusteeism should be resisted by ensuring that new churches are established in the bishop’s name.

Priests should remain in their dioceses.

The Douey-Rhiems version of the Bible should become standard.

Registering of Baptisms, Confirmations and Marriages should be made uniform.

A UNIFORM CATHECHISM SHOULD BE INSTITUTED

Catholic Schools should be established to teach Faith to all Catholic Children

Faithful must support their parish

Pastors shouldn’t use inappropriate music at Mass

Endorse Patriotism

Membership in Secret Societies was forbidden

Catholics who attempt marriage after divorce is excommunicated

Confessionals should be in each church

Immaculate Conception chosen as US Patroness

The Immaculate Conception should be defined by the Pope

The Three Plenary Councils (1852-1884)

In 1852 there were six Archdioceses in the United States: The Archdioceses of Baltimore, Saint Louis, New York, Cincinnati, Oregon, and New Orleans

After these raisings of these archdioceses, Plenary Councils were held for all the metropolitan provinces.

Selected Main Issues (Not Decrees):

Confronting Problems in the growth of the US Church

Catholic involvement in the Reconstruction after the Civil War

Immigration

Anti-Catholicism

Hope of the initiation of Vatican I and spirit of Pope Leo XIII

Selected Main Decrees:

The Pope is the head of the Church (Argument used to combat Americanism)

Establishment of the Chancery Office

Parochial Schools should be initiated

Uniformity in Liturgy

Secret Societies were condemned

The Baltimore Catechism

What is a Catechism? : A Catechism is a concise summary of Catholic teaching as described in four parts, Belief (the Creed), Worship (Sacraments), Morals (10 Commandments), and Prayer (Our Father).

-There are two types of Catechism, Local (Baltimore, Belarmine, Canissium) and Universal (CCC, Roman Catechism)

The History of Catechism:

1529: Martin Luther writes a Lutheran Catechism

1566 Roman Catechism from the Council of Trent (Focus on the Sacraments)

1885 the Baltimore Catechism, which was revised in 1941 and 1949

1992 The Catechism of the Catholic Church after Vatican II (Focus of Ecclesiology)

Three versions were made (1st communion, Elementary, and High School) The main audience in Jr.High

Saints Katherine Drexel and Francis Xavier Cabrini

Saint Katherine Drexel (1858-1955):

“Called Million Dollar Nun”

Born to very wealthy businessman Francis Drexel in Philidelphia, and her mother died soon after she was born

Francis Drexel remarried and raised Katharine and her sister in the Faith, but here step mother died soon, as well as her father who died in 1901.

Drexel Heights today in Arizona is named for her Father

Katharine’s sister died, and she inherited all of the family inheritance which was close to $250 million in today’s money

She wanted to be missionary, but Pope Leo XIII told her to minister to the blacks and Indians of Wyoming and the West.

She entered the Sister of Mercy

2 years later she founded her own community called “The Sister of the Blessed Sacrament” to minister to blacks and Indians She opened her headquarters near Philadelphia

The order opened 65 schools

In addition to the Evangelical Counsels, she added a fourth vow: “To be a mother and servant of the Indians and Negro Peoples”

Befriended and listened to advice from Mother Cabrini

She founded Xavier University the first US Catholic Academic Institution for blacks

1935 Suffered a heart attack and lived for 20 years as a contemplative in ded

Died in March 3rd 1955, at age 95, and was canonized in 2000 by JP2

Major project: Xavier university

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917):

Francesca was born in Lombary, IT, the youngest of three children and weak and frail

At age 13 she heard a sermon from a missionary to China which inspired her to seek a missionary vocation.

After working for six years in charity, she was asked by the local ordinary to start a religious community

She began “The Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart” and took the name “Frances Xavier, for she wished to be a missionary to Asia.

When in Rome seeking a mandate for her order, Pope Leo XIII who asked her to take her order to the USA, instead of Asia to minister to Italian immigrants, first in New York under Archbishop Michael Corrigan

Despite her hydrophobia she crossed the Atlantic numerous time

Eventually houses of her Order were established in 8 US cities as well and Central and South America.

Known as a “shrewd business woman”

In 1909 she became a US Citizen

She founded schools, clinics, and charitable institutions

Worked in CA, CO, IL, LA, SY, NJ, PN, WA

Died at 67 at Columbus Hospital in Chicago, IL

She was canonized the first American Saint and citizen by Pope Pius XII, and later declared “Patroness of Immigrants” in 1950

Major Project: Columbus Hospital

The Saints of Molokai and Father Edward Flanagan

Saint Damien of Molakai

Feast: May 10th

Born: 1840 in Belgium

Died: 1889 in Molokai

Canonized 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI

Patron: Lepers, AIDS, HIVS, Outcasts, State of Hawaii

Early Life:

Born Joseph De Veustur as a farm boy in Belgium as a 7th child

He attended college in Belgium and then joined the SSCC and took the name Damien, named after Saint Damienus (and his brother Cosmos), early Christian martyr, who were Physicians and are in the Roman Canon

He sought missionary, praying to Saint Francis Xavier

His brother, Fahter Augistine De Vestur, SSCC, was chosen to go to the missions, but because of his health could not go. Thus Damien took his place and was sent to Hawaii.

The Hawaiian Missions

He landed on Saint Joseph’s Day (March 19th), 1864 in Honolulu, HI

He was ordained at priest at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace of the Diocese of Honolulu

Along with other priest, he volunteered to be sent to the leper colony on the island of Molokai, to the lepers who had been sent there per order of the government of Hawaii “the Act to Prevent the Spread of Leprosy” but he alone was chosen to minister to the peoples there. Although this was virtually a death sentence

Four people eventually came to help him: Saint Marianne Cope, a priest to help him, a construction-man, and a nurse

After his holy death, his body was sent to Belgium

After his death he received a high honor by the King of Hawaii

Protestants even helped donate to his cause, although some Congregationalist crtized him

Robert Louis Stevenson, Gandhi, and even Barack Obama have admired and defended his work.

Along with Marianne Cope, he is venerated in the Episcopalian Communion

The Colony of Lepers is now a US Historic Site under the National Park Service

Many films and books have been based on him

Called by some as “The Greatest Belgian”

SAINT MARIANNE COPE WAS BORN IN GERMANY AND DIED IN HAWAII. SHE IWAS CONONIZED IN 2012 BY POPE BENEDICT XVI. SHE BELONGED TO THE SISTER OF SAINT FRANCIS AND IS THE PATRON OF THE SAME THINGS AS SAINT DAMIEN. SHE WAS THE FIRST PERSON BEATIFIED BY POPE BENEDICT XVI, AND THE LAST CANONZIED BY HIM.

Servant of God Monsignor Edward Flanagan

He was born in Ireland in 1886 to a herdsman family

He was very bright and attended Summerhill College in Ireland, and after coming the US and becoming a citizen, attended Mount Saint Mary University in Emmetsburg, MY, as well as Saint Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoody, NY , Gregorian University, Innsburk College, Austria

1917 He founded an orphanage for boys in Omaha, NE

A few years later he founded Boys Town, NE 10 miles west of Omaha

Boys Town was a large community with its own, Chapel, school, mayor, post office, gym, and trade school.

He was named a Monsignor by Pope Pius XI

Became an advocate of child’s welfare, travelling to Japan and Korea after WWII to help in situations there.

He died of a heart attack in Berlin in 1948

He is buried in Boys Town, ne

He was honored on the Four-cent stamp, and was placed in the NE Hall of Fame

Boys Town has satilite locations in CA, NV, TX, IW, LA, IL, DC, NY, and throughout New England

In 1972, the institution went from Orphanage style to family-care system

In 1974 Boys and girls were admitted to Boys Town, and girls now make up 40% of the population.

Two films, “Boys Town” and “Men of Boys Town” have been made after this place

It is a Us National Historic Landmark

Today the city of Boys Town, NE had 745 residents

The Archbishop of Omaha opened the cause of canonization of Father Flanagan, and he is now a Servant of God.

The Order of the Knights of Columbus

I. Definition /Reasons for Existence and Introduction

The Order of the Knights of Columbus is a society of Catholic men that embrace four principles: charity, patriotism, unity, and fraternity, that support member’s families and other marginalized or needy peoples.

To provide financial assistance to members’ families through life insurance

To promote education

To promote charitable, social and religious welfare by forming a fraternal society for the purpose of assisting their Church, Country, and Families though their Catholic identity and Faith, and by following the ideal of Christopher Columbus, who first brought Christianity to the new world.

There are four different kinds of orders in the Church:

Holy Orders (Deacon, Priest, Bishop)

A Religious Order such as those who take the vows of the evangelical counsels. (the Norbertines, Benedictines, Carmelites)

Military Orders such as the Knights of Malta of Knights of the Holy Seplecure

Lay Orders: There are two kinds of Lay Orders: 1. A secular or ‘third order’ branch of a religious community (OCDS, Lay Norbertines), which are people who do not make vows but aspire to live in closer communion to a communities charism. 2. Lay groups such as the Knights of Columbus

Why Knights? The name Knights was chosen to show the order’s concern for the helpless and to model after the medieval knights from Europe who were ideally chivalrous, chaste, courageous and gentle, who strove to “defend the defenseless” .

Why Columbus? The name “Columbus” is to show the order’s connection to Christopher Columbus, to proprietor of American Catholicism, as well as to combat anti-Catholicism to show anti-Catholics that America would not be without the Catholics.

II. Founder

Early Life:

Michael McGivney was born in Waterbury, CT IN 1852 to an Irish working class family. His father worked at a Brass Mill, and he was the eldest of 13 children, six of whom died in childhood.

He found his vocation at an early age and began attending minor seminary at 16, at the College of Saint Hyacinth in Quebec, Canada,

He then entered the Our Lady of the Angles Seminary at Niagara University, before being transferred to Saint Mary’s College in Montreal

In 1873, his father died, and because women’ wages were half of that of men’s, Michael was needed to return to his home, as his family could no longer afford to send him to seminary.

But Bishop McFarland of the Diocese of Hartford offered to pay for the boy’s education and thus continued his schooling at Saint Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore.

In 1877 he was ordained in Baltimore by Cardinal James Gibbons.

He returned to his hometown to celebrate Mass a few days later.

Priesthood:

He was given work at prishes and in jail/youth/labor ministries

He began to realize the working men needed a society to aid their families, much like a “secret society” except not anti-Catholic. (Secret Societies provided insurance for worker’s families is the member got hurt on the job, but they were condemned by the Pope, and those who participated in a society such as the Masons, even for family insurance, were automatically excommunicated).

The First Council was called the San Salvador “Holy Redeemer” Council after the island where Christopher Columbus landed first in the New World.

With permission he founded the Order of the Knights of Columbus on October 2, 1881 at a basement in a debt-ridden parish, called Saint Mary’s.

By February the Oder began appearing in local newspapers, and Father McGivney began travelling around Connecticut spreading the Order.

Even as the Order grew and he became the Supreme Chaplain, he remained very much as people-oriented, zealous pastor.

After his death his two younger brothers, who were also priests, became the next two Supreme Chaplains.

Death

Because of over-working, he developed pneumonia, on top of his already fragile health in Jan. 1890.

He died that summer after 13 years as a priesnt at 38 years old

His cause for canonization was opened in 2000, and he is currently a venerable, but there is a miracle awaiting approval from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, of a person healed in the Philippines in 2014.

III. Legacy

After Father McGivney’s death,the Order began implementing the “Commission of Religious Prejudices”and began donating hospital beds, medicines, and insurances for the destitute.

In 1917 for WWI Vets, the Knights sponsored recreational opportunities for returning solders, spending a total of $53 Million.

They began fighting against Communism on radio programs.

During the Great Depresion, the prvoded services for the needy

In WWII, they supported the war-effort and provided scholarships to veteran’s children. (They continue to provide sch0olarships for member’s children for college and they also help to pay off debts and to pay seminary expenses for aspiring seminarians)

In the 40’s, they began the “Columbian Squires” for boys.

During the turmoil of the Vatican II aftermath, they remained Faithful to the Holy See, and Saint John Paul II called them “the strong right arm of the Church”

Their magazine ‘Columbia” is the most read Catholic magazine in the USA.

IV. Today and Statistics

Supreme Grand Knight: Carl Anderson

Supreme Chaplain: Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore

Members as of 2014: 1.6 Million+

Members in the United States: 1.4 Million

Councils: 12,000 across the globe

Between 2000-2010, they donated over $1 Billion to charities

They are active in the pro-life movement

The funded the restoration of Saint Peter’s Basilica

They funded in the 1950’s the Bell Tower of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. “Columbia Tower”

They have helped in Haiti, Katrina, and Newtown, 9/11

Continue to provide life insurance

V. Famous Members

Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley of Boston

Cardinal William Leveda (Prefect-Emeritus of CDF)

Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore

Governor Jeb Bush (Convert and broth of President George Bush)

Coach Vincent Lombardy of the Green Bay Packers

Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees

President John F. Kennedy

Super-Liberal Senator Ted Kennedy

Father Leonard Feeney and the Feeneyites

Priesthood and Life:

Leonard Feeney was born in 1897 in Lynn, MA

He entered the Jesuits in 1914

He was an intellectual and attended Oxford University and Weston College in England

He was ordained in 1928

He very quickly became an inspiring and attractive writer and speaker

Known as a poet and became president of the American Poetry Society, as well as the editor of the American (Jesuit) Magazine

In 1940 he was given a teaching position at Boston College and became a student chaplain to a youth group which included young Avery Dulles

Together with students on campus he founded the Saint Benedict Center

His popularity became even more famous as he soon befriended Cardinal Richard Cushing, JFK, and Robert Kennedy.

Heresy:

He spoke once to a Protestant minister who confessed to his face that the Catholic Church was the true church, but for various reason, refused to enter thre Church. This discussion got Father Feeney thinking more rigidly of the Church doctrine “Extram Ecclesiam Nulla Salvus”, and soon believed that NO ONE except baptized WITH ONLY WATER IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH could be saved. All else were bound for Hell.

This heretical view caused his suspension from the Jesuits in 1949

It soon became known as the “Boston Heresy”

After receiving ecclesiastical censure, he was summoned to Rome by Pope Pius XII to clarification on the matter.

He refused, and was excommunicated under grave disobedience to the Pope.

With Catherine Clarke he founded a schismatic group for men and women religious called the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Still River, MA.

In 1972, the excommunication was lifted by Pope Paul VI and most of his followers, but they never recanted their belief.

Feeney died in 1978 and upon his grave it reads “Extram Eccleicam Nulla Salvus”

Two Interpetations of ‘Extram Ecclesiam Nulla Salvus’:

There are two interpretations of this doctrine-the True one and the heretical (Feeney) one

True: No salvation is found outside the Church to those, who know the truths of the Catholic Faith and are properly exposed to them, refuse to believe in them. Thus “Extram Ecclesicam Nulla Salvus”. Also, Baptism of Water, Blood and Desire are all approved means of salvation. This is state in the CCC and Lumen Gentium, as well as some of this in the Council of Trent and the Roman Catechism. Thus an idian on Bornea, who follow his conscience to the best o his abilities, without ever hearing the Gospel, may be saved.

Heretical: Taking “Extram Ecclesia Nulla Saluvus” to the letter. No one, except those baptized with water in the Catholic Church, may be saved.

The Americanism Heresy

Definition and Summary of Belief

Americanism is a list of errs condemned in an apostolic letter by Pope Leo XXIII, written in 1899 addressed to Cardinal Gibbons.

Americanism is the belief that Catholicism should be adapted as much as possible externally to the modern cultural ideas and value of American, even though such cultural traditions were at times contrary to Church Teaching.

Supported:

Sociopolitical Values

Democracy

Humanitarian Work

Separation of Church and State

Relaxation of requirements of the Church for converts

Relaxation of liturgical rubrics

Many bishops including Archbishop John Ireland sought to support these ideals, while other American bishops opposed such accommodations and sought to preserve Faith and Society against social trends.

List of Major Errors

Americanism sought to water down the Faith, belittle or wipeout Church teaching, thinking that these actions will help more people come into the Church. Thus their goal of more converts was good, but their dissenting means was flawed. This was the main err of Americanism: the others follow it-

Religious Life is a hindrance to Religious Liberty. The active life is far superior to the contemplative one. -----How to refute this? Mary and Martha! Who had chosen the better part? Mary, who CONTEMPLATED AND LISTENED TO Christ’s words! Also Saint Paul reminds us of this when he says “pray without ceasing…”Although the active life is important, the contemplative life is higher.

Active and Passive Virtues- Active Virtues are higher: According to Saint Thomas Aquinas in his Summa Theologica, no virtue is passive! By its origin (strengthen, courage), virtue is an active thing. It is an ACT of the Will! Americanists of this time criticized what they saw as “passive virtues” such as submission, obedience and meekness.

The Natural Virtues are above the Supernatural Ones. --- They believed that the Natural Virtues such as chastity, industriousness, truth, and patience were above the Supernatural Virtues such as Faith, Hope, Love, and Mercy.

In order to Evangelize we need a Protestant Liturgy. --- Pope Leo XIII wrote “It is err to abandon the ancient method of defending the Faith” What these old methods? A life of Virtue! A True Liturgy! Prayer!

The Church is the United States is different from the Church Universal----Americanists thought the the US Church was: more democratic, less hierarchical, separated from the Pope, contained different doctrine and worship.

The History of and the Combating of Americanism

Father Isaac Hecker wrote a series of books which were sent to France after the French Revolution, which fell into the hands of the Monarchists (who opposed democracy and supported aristocracy) and the Progressives (who supported Democracy and Church Rights).

The Progressives invited Archbishop Ireland to preach on Father Hecker’s books, but his talk stirred controversy, as it was seen to contain heretical teaching.

The Monarchists combated this ideology, which became known as Americansm, by attacking Father Hecker and calling him as dissenter. Thus began the so called “War of the Pamphlets” Pope Leo XIII later stated the Father Hecker’s book (as interpresated by the Progessives) was wrong, and that this false teaching must not reach America.

Pope Leo XIII wrote the first Apostolic Letter to the United States in 1899 called “Testem Benevelincium” (Witness to Truth), in which he first affimed the Faith of the people, and then clarifys, corrects and then cautions against errs. This letter was sent to Cardinal James Gibbons, and he, along with other liberals were surprised at the apperence of such a letter and assured the Holy Father that none of these practices were going on in the USA. Conservatives on the other hand, were very happy because of this chastising letter. After this letter, Americanism died off.

Thus Americanism is also known as Heckerism, because of the Progressive French’s interpretation of his book.

Cardinal Francis Spellman and Cardinal Richard Cushing

Francis Cardinal Spellman

Early Years:

Francis was born in 1889 in Whitman, MA

He was bright boy and studied at Fordham College and later the North American College in Rome, earning a doctorate in Theology. .

Despite an illness in his college years he worked at Propaganda Fide in Rome

Preisthood:

He was ordained in 196 in Rome and sent to Boston as a parish priest for 2 years.

He soon became the Vie-Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Boston

After that high title he became a secretary to the newly formed Vatican City State, and was named a Monsignor by Pope Pius XI.

While in Rome he made very powerful friends such as Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the later Pius XII.

Monsignor Spellman was given the secret job of smuggling Pius XI’s encyclical condemning socialism from Mussolini-Controlled Italy to Paris for global distribution.

Bishop and Cardinal:

He was soon named the Auxiliary Bishop of Boston and was consecrated a bishop in Rome by Cardinal Pacelli.

It was no surprise when the Pope named him Archbishop of New York in 1939, and later the Vicariate of the Military Services (This was before the Archdiocese of Military Services USA as ordered by JP2 IN 1984. He was the spiritual father of 2 millions solders and visited them around the world for 24 years.)

He was made a Cardinal in 1946, and became the most powerful Catholic leader in the United States since Cardinal Gibbons, fifty years before.

He had great fiscal and building abilities as was nicknamed “The Powerhouse”, “Cardinal Moneybags”

He was a friend of FDR, and was used as a personal embassy to foreign countries by him, as well as his personal confident.

He spoke out against Communism

He wanted the US Government to fund Catholic Schools, and had disagreements with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who refused to fund him.

He diputed with JFK in this same issue, and thus publically endorsed Nixon for president.

He helped elect Saint John XXIII (Angelo Cardinal Roncalli) and Paul VI (Giuseppe Montini) as well as a participant in Vatican II.

He consecrated the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in DC in the 50’s.

He endorsed Lyndon B. Johnson for president and supported the Vietnam War as a just war to stop Communism.

He and Archbishop Sheen were once friends but because of a public incident they were silent opponents…The issue was that Sheen, when he was in charge of Propaganda Fide in New York, received a large donation of powdered milk from the US Government, but Spellman wanted the money from Sheen. Sheen replied that their was none, for it was a gift. Nonetheless, Spellman heavily criticized Sheen, even going to Pope Paul VI to side with him. Paul VI however sided with Sheen, and to let the incited cool off moved Sheen out of New York.

He submitted his resignation in 1966, but requested to stay longer as bishop.

He spoke out against discrimination

He died at 76 years old as one of the greatest American Catholics.

The President LBJ, V.P. Hugh Humphrey, Robert Kennedy, Gov. Rockefeller and 100+ bishops attended his funeral at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in NY.

His Episcopal Motto was: “Follow God”

Known as Ambitious and self-centered---using people for what he could get out of it.

Richard Cardinal Cushing

Early Life:

Richard was born in S. Boston in 1895

He was an Honors student in Latin and Greek

He attended Boston College and later Saint John’s Seminary in Boston

Priesthood:

He was ordained in 1921, and assigned to Proganda Fide

He served also in the Archdiocesan Chancery Office

His main job was to raise $ for missions and poor

Bishop and Cardinal:

In 1939 he was consecrated the Auxiliary Bishop of Boston, replacing Bishop Spellman who went to NY.

Was apostolic administrator of Boston after the death of Cardinal O’Connell

Archbishop of Boston in 1944

He was made a Cardinal by John 23

He was known as affectionate, affable, and outgoing.

He was a TV/Radio pioneer

He was influential in Politics

He had a very close relationship with JFK and presided at his funeral and invocation Mass .

He was an out-spoken anti-communist

He was too optimistic, opening too many dioceasen facilities, emassing in huge sums of debt.

He cared for the sick and crippled and mentally ill, leading a 100 person pilgrimage with such people to Lourdes once.

His main goals were: improvements in Jewish/Protestent Realationships, unity between the rich and poor, a builder and fundraiser

His major weakness was over expansion and a bit of liberalism.

He married JFK and Jaquilene Kennedy

He also was chastised by the Vatican for causing public scandal by marrying Jacquie Kennedy to a divorced-Orthodox man.

He was a major author of Nostre Aetata, the Vatican II Document on the Jews

He was very Pro-Jew

He was very ecumenical and encourage Catholics to attended Billy’s Graham’s Talks.

He was VERY Pro-Mission

He would take nuns to Red Sox games

Liked Vatican II

His motto was “That all may know Thee”

He was known to accept people for who they were and loved all people

Father Solanus Casey and Father Paul Watson

Father Solanus Casey

He is known as the “Wonder Worker” He is the First US Man declared Venerable

Born Bernard Casey “Barney” in Oak Grove, WI of 16 children

At age eight he got diphtheria, leaving his voice permanently wispy

At 17 he left home to be a lumber jack, hospital orderly, jail guard, and street car operator.

When working as a street car oprtator, he witnessed a murder that made him rethink his life.

He discerned the priesthood and applied for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, but the classes were taught only in German or Latin, and since he didn’t even have a High School Diploma, left because of the rigourous studies.

He joined the OFM CAP (Order of Friars Minor Brown) and was ordained a ‘sacerdotus simplex’ (a priest who can say Mass, but not preach or hear confessions).

He went through 20 years of assignments in New York and was known as an inspiring speaker.

He came later the Saint Bonaventure Monestary in Detroit , MI serving there as a porter.

Each week he would see the sick, and he cured many ill (mentally, physically, and spiritually)

After his death in 1957 in Indiana, 20,000 people passed by his coffin.

Sacristan

Doorkeeper

Director of Young Ladies

Directors of Altar Servers

Family Support

Mission Promoter

Miracle worker

Healer

Knew Father Groschell story……

Prophet

Converter

Father Paul Watson “Prophet of Unity”

He was born the child of an Anglican “Priest” in Maryland during the Civil War and named Lewis Thomas Watson.

He is known as the ‘Father of the Week of Christian Unity”

Along with Mother Lorena White he founded the Society of the Atonement under a Fransiscan Spirituality

He truly believed he was Catholic, because he saw three Catholic branches: the Roman Branch, Eastern Branch and the Anglican Branch.

The Original week of Christian Unity started on the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter and ended on the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul. It was founded in 1908.

Soon, he and Sister Lorena were received into the Catholic Church, and he was ordained a Catholic Priest in 1910, where Father Solanus Casey, who wasn’t normally able to preach, said the homily.

His order was eventually approved by Rome and they are no known as the Greymoor Friars, because of their habits. Their initials are S.A.

Archbishop Fulton John Sheen

I. In General

Archbishop Fulton Sheen was the face of American Catholicism from the 50’s-70’s.

He touched millions of lives

He wrote about 70 books

He was granted an Emmy Award for best show, where he thanked his writers: the 4 evangelists.

He received 15,000 letters a day.

Was the inspiration for thousands of priests

Converts? Who knows!

II. About

Peter Fulton Sheen was born in El Paso, IL in 1895

He took his mother’s maiden name “Fulton” for his first name.

His father worked as a farmer, inventor and owned a hardware shop.

When he was 5 years old, he moved to Peoria, IL and became a server at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

Bishop Spalding Story……… U. of Levene ---bishop

He graduated at the top of all his classes and was known as a debator and scholar by the end of High School (Valedictorian)

He entered Saint Paul’s Seminary in MN

He attended the Angelicum in Rome ,and a university in Paris

He also attended the University of Luevene in Belgium

By the time he was 30, he had a PhD in Philosophy with Honors

After his ordination, he was sent to a very poor parish in Peoria where only 25% of the people spoke English. After a short time, the bishop told him “I only sent you here to see if you would still be obedient even after all your achievements...”

Sheen then began full time teaching at CUA and was a spellbinding teaching, and his classes always overflowed.

He began soon speaking as a radio evangelist with 4 million listeners.

He soon became also a TV Evangelists, paving the way for future evangelists.

His award winning show “Life is Worth Living” went on for 13 years

He sought Common Ground with Protestants and Jews

He was funny, comical and witty

He served as the Director of Propagandae Fide for 15 years

He donated all his money to the Church and Missions

He was both a Preacher (Heart) and a Teacher (Head)

His major fault was pride.

Loved reading

Always studied

Towards the end of his life he gave extensive retreats to priests, after his fallout with Cardinal Spellman.

Gave all his books to Mary

Was a Prophet of Mercy

He was a personal friend of Pius XI, Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI and knew John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

He was a poor administrator, and resigned from bishop of Rochester, NY after three years.

Spoke against Nazism, Communism, and the Vietnam War

He was known as a prophet, especially in the Stalin Story…….

Pope John Paul II said to him “You have spoken and written well of our Lord Jesus Christ. You are a loyal son of the Church”

III. Reforms

Venerable Sheen taught that there were four reforms during major problems every 500 years in the Church. Here they are:

-The Carolinian Reform (500 AD-THE FALL OF ROME)

Problem: Barbarians and the Dark Ages

Counter Attack: Opening of Monasteries, and missionaries to the British Isles to preserve civilization while the rest of Europe was sieged.

Great People: Pope Saint Gregory I, Charlemagne

-The Gregorian Reform (1000 AD-THE GREAT SCHISM)

Problem: 1052- the division of the East and West, Simony, Clerical Incontinence, lay investiture

Was diagnosed with incurable tuberculoses, and prayed to Mary and was cured- he vowed to spend the rest of his life spreading the Rosary

Promised Mary 10 Million Rosary-Praying Families daily

Started Family Radio Theatre in Hollywood with featured famous actors such as Bing Crosby .

Coined “Family the Prays together, stay together” “A World Praying the Rosary is a world at PEACE”

1950 started the Family Rosary Crusade gathering up to 2 million people.

Made films on Christ’s Life

Died in San Pedro in 1992 and is buried in MA

THOMAS MERTON

Thomas Merton was born in 1915 in France

In his early years he was a wild, and while a young man fathered a child

He became a literary major in college.

Believed all religions lead to God

At 23 he converted influenced by Thomistic spirituality

He became a social activist

He joined the Gethsemane Abbey Trappists in KY at the start of WWII, for he knew he needed discipline. His religious name was Mary Louis

In 1948 He wrote the Seven Storey Mountain (seven storey’s after Dante’s 7 stories of purgatory), It was translated into 15 languages, and Sheen called it a 20th century Confessions.

The book takes Catholic Theology and combines it with modern thinking and has a Carmelite and Thomistic Spirituality, which sees the value of contemplation alone.

He became open to Eastern, Zen and Buddhism Spirituality

When he entered the monastery there were 70 monks, when he died there where 200

He struggled with chastity throughout his life

He died in 1968 in Thailand.

THE CATHOLIC PRESS

Catholicism is the only religion in the USA with such as widespread press.

1820 The Catholic World Magazine

1822 First Catholic Newspaper

1829 Jesuit Sentential

1831: The Cincinatti Register

1865: the Ave Maria Magazine

1912: OSV

1923: The Register

FRANK SHEED AND MAISE WARD

Frank was born in Sydney, Australia to a Catholic Mom and a Marxist Dad

He moved to London and as a young man began street preaching

He was trained in public speaking and gave over 7000 speeches in his life

He met his wife Maise Ward and they began a printing press “Sheed and Ward Publishers, INC”

They moved to NY and published Dorothy Day, Catherine de Hueck, Chesterton, Augustine, as well as themselves

He received a Pontifical Doctorate in Theology from the Vatican.

DOROTHY DAY

Dorothy Day was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1897, and soon moved to San Francisco where she survived the 19006 earthquake.

She attended the U. of IL, but dropped out after 2 years

Joined the Socialist Party and became a socialist reporter for “The Call” Newspaper in DC.

She was continually jailed until she was 75 y.o. for protesting various things

She became an un-wed mother and had an abortion, which she always regretted.

She became aware of the Faith, by her roommates, but still not well enough to practice Christian Virtue, as she had a child out of wed-lock

In 1927 both she and her child were baptized Catholics.

In 1932, while reporting on a hunger strike in DC, she stopped to pray in the National Shrine, where she met Peter Maurin, the man who would help her start the C.W.M.

Together they became the CWM and started communes for workers as well as Houses of Hospitality.

She was an extreme pacifist speaking out against all war including WWII, KOREA, AND VIETNAM.

She supported communist and socialist leaders, even as a Catholic.

She recived the “Women of Peace” Award from Saint Pope John XXIII in 1563.

Along with Caesar Chavez, she was a civil rights, labor union organizer.

Blessed Mother Theresa made her an honorary member of her community.

She died in 1980, and was made a S.O.G. in 2012 by the USCCB

CAESAR CHAVEZ

He was born in Yuma, AZ IN 1927

His family lost their farm during the great depression, and they lived a migrant workers in California

He attended 65 schools, culminating in a 7th grade education.

He joined the navy for 2 years calling it the worst days of his life.

He married Helna Tabela and they moved to Deano, CA where they had 7 children

He met Fr McDonald, who taught him social doctrine and Fred Ross, who taught him peaceful-protests in the Bay Area

He soon began marching for farmer’s rights and fair wages, starting the United Farm Workers Association

He lead marches and protests around the country for rights of farmers

He began a 36 day fast for rights, in which he almost died.

He was a vgan, supported animal rights, and allegedly the gay movement.

He also became a daily communicant at the end of his life

He is buried at Caesar Chavez National Monument in Tehachapi, CA under the NPS.

Carrie Doheney

She was born in 1875 in Philly

In 1900 she married billionare Edward Doheny in CA.

She was friends with the Vincentian Order and built, Saint Vincient’s Church (LA), San Vincent’s Hospital (LA)< AND Vincentiant run Saint John’s Seminary. To which she gave a Gutenberg Bible and rare and historical church treasures. Cardinal Mahony in the 1980’s sold the collection without Vatican permission.

She and her husband lived on a Hacienda near Ojai and now the land is TAC.

Mr. Doheney was found involved in the Teapot Dome Scandal in Wyoming, which took a tremendous toll on his health.

She was named a Papal Countess in 1939 by Pius XI

She donated the USC Library.

San Second d’ Asti and Mr. Secondo Guasti

A. San Secondo

Saint Secondo was a convert who died in 119 AD, who was beheaded for the Faith near Turin, IT.

His relics lay in the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption in Asti Diocese in Piedmont

Feast is March 30th

B. Asti,IT

75,000 residents

Its own diocese

35 miles east of Turin

Home of a Eucharistic Miracle at eh Church of San Secundus d’ Asti

C. Mr Guasti and Legacy

Mr Guasti was born in 1859

Born poor and uneducated

Came to the US via Mexicamarried a waitress in LA

Started “Italian Vineyard Co.” In Ontario

He had 5000 acres of grapes, producing 5 million gallons of wine/year

It was the most successful and largest vineyard in the world

Opened d the town of Guasti

He lived in the Guasti Mansion

Supported and beloved by Mussolini

He was kind to his Mex./It workers

Dedicated the Church in 1926

It was given to the LA Diocese of 1935 (now SB)

San Antonio -> Baldy

Modeled after Church of Saint Secondo of Asti in Asti, IT

US NORBERTINES

Norbert wasborn in 1018

Struck by lightning on a horse and reformed his worldly ways

He was ordained a deacon and priest at the same time

He founded the Norbertine in 1120 in France near Leon in Premontre

He was appointed Archbishop in Germany

And by his death there were 500 Norbertine abbeys in Europe and Asia

What is a Canon? A General Canon is one who chants the Divine Office

A Secular Canon is one who chants the Divine Office in a Cathedral

A Religious Canon is one who chants the Divine Office in a monastery or Priory.

Saint Norbert Reformed the priesthood

First Religious Order to appraise the Immaculate Conception

Almost all Norbertines were wiped out during the reformation and the French Revolution

Father Pennings was called in 1893 to Green Bay, WI to minister to Dutch Immigrants, and he soon brought more priest and they opened the first priory there along with Saint Norbert’s College.

In 1957 Hungarian Norbertine came to California fleeing Communists, hiking and crossing over many mountains ad rivers. They were welcomed by Cardinal McIntyre and taught at Mater Dei H.S.

In 1984 the Priary of Saint Michael was raised to an Abbey, and Abbot Parker was elected the first Abbot.

FATHER JOHN COURTNEY MURRAY, SJ

He was born in NYC in 1904

He became a smart college professot

He had major disagreements with Cardinal Ottavianni of the Holy Office over the issue of the Separation of the Church and State.

He was censured (silenced) by him and order tnot to preach about Rel. Luiberty again

He was the main author of The Vatican II Document on Religious Liberty, and was a theological advisory to Cardinal Spellman.

He was for separation of church and state along with most American bishops. They agreed onb Religious Liberty based on Natural Law, which is found in Chp. 1 of the Doc.

The opposition to his view was found by the bishop of Spain and Italy, who supported Rel. Lib. As revealed by Divine Revelation, and these view is found in chp. 2 of the doc.

He was sadly pro-contraception and believed that it was a matter of personal choice

Differences:

Religious Liberty: The Catholic Church has the fullness of Truth and should be treated as a higher religion, then any other church

Religious Freedom: All religions are equal in weight and value.

Shrine of the United States

What is a Shrine? According to the Code of Canon Law –“a Shrine is a church or other sacred place, with the permission of the bishop is because of special devotion, visited by the faithful as pilgrims. For a shrine to be national it needs the approval of the bishop’s conference. For a shrine to be international it needs the approval of the Holy See. “

Oldest US Churches:

San Miguel Mission (1610)

San Augustine Cathedral (1763)

Saint Louis of France Cathedral (1789)

Cathedral of San Fernando (1750_

Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist (1521), PR 2ND OLDEST CHURCH IN W. HEMISPHERE

Shrines:

Loretto……

NA MARTYERS

CA MISSIONS

OUR LADY OF GUDELUPE, WI

SNOWS, IL

National Shrine of I.C.

IDEA: 1913

Land Grant from C.U.A

Architecture Finalized (Neo-Byzantine)

1959 Spellman consecrates Church

1979: JP2 VISITS

1990: Named Basilica

2008: B-16 Visits (2nd largest Church in USA after Saint the Divine Episcopalian in NY)

Not the local Cathedral (st. matts…)

Largest CC in the Western Hemisphere

WERE THE 40-50’S THE GOLDEN YEARS OF AMERICAN CAHTHOLICSMS?

Yes, because of the promotion of good Catholic values in the media. Priests were seen as good, manly models

No, because the same problems we have now were present, but they were more subtle.

No, the problems were there, but just not shown publically.

I. Overall

Before the 40/50’s

The problem was rooted in negativity. A negative view of God, the Church was due the remnants of the Heresy Jansenism.

As God was seen, so was all authority. Authority was too harsh in their thinking (bishops, priests, in confession, pulpit etc.), parents were in general too harsh.

“You don’t need an explanation, you do it because I say so”

A Black and White thinking

Catholics are good and holy, all else are mediocre at best.

Differences were not tolerated.

Negative in the Church: demons, Hell, justice, rules.

Extreme Fear of God “A lot of Fear, but not much Love”

Lots of Vocations-All those with an interest in a vocation got in! even those without a true vocation! They stayed because the thinking if you left was “Don’t be a failure! please your parents!”

Fear for the laity….” You’re not a religious or priest, it’s harder for you to be saved!”

During the 40/50’s

Everything looked good! Marriages were were sky-high

Media portrayed the Church well!

Behind the “nice façade”, was really a storm brewing, cracks and problems were silently growing.

After the 40/50’s

The Complete opposite!

We went from only Fear to No Fear!

The Church went from cowardliness to risky and from fear to tepidity

The Church was at one extreme and it swung to the opposite overnight! (Because of false reports of VII and people were fed up with fear! Also the culture was changing….)

The Pre VII period was one of fear

The VII Period was one of transition

The Post VII period was one of liberalism

Vatican II was blamed for all the problems because it coincided with the transition from extreme conservatism to liberalism.

II. Specifically

Salvation- Pre: Few shall be saved Post: All will be saved

The Church- Pre: Focus on the Church “way up there the invisible Church or the Roman Church-Post: The Visible Church, the one I can see.

Truth- Pre: Truth was seen scholastically, looking at truth OBJECTIVLY: This is how it is with or without me. Using definition, being, scientific, and categorical Post: Truth is about feeling, no definitions for all (we all define truth ourselves) Truth was seen SUBJECTIVLY. If it doesn’t pertain to me, why learn it?

General Worldview- Pre: Black and White alone. Post: Grey alone.

Moral Absolutes- Pre: There are Moral absolutes! Truth is of essence! Post: Truth is relative…Truth is evolving!

Scripture: Pre: Scripture was not to be studied but only believed. If the sun ‘rises and sets’, then the earth must be flat. Post: “Make up your own translations!” Believe what you want in the Bible!

Sacrifice: Pre: The sacrifice was seen as “I am doing this for the good of the Church and souls” Post: “I am doing this because it fulfills me…”

The Mass: Pre-The Sacrifice of the Mass Post: The Celebration of the Mass- a banquet

Confession: Pre: People went to confession for dinky things! Scrupulosity abounded. Post: What is a sin?

The Eucharist:Pre: We can’t receive our Lord, one communion per confession and strict fasting rules Post: All can receive even those in Mortal Sin and non-Catholics!

Virtue: Pre: The Theological Virtues. Post: Social Justice Virtues

Authority: Pre- “You do it because I said so” Post: Why???????

DifferencesPre: Only focus on the differences. Post: Dialogue and celebrate the differences, even the bad.

Afterlife: Pre: Hell, Long Purgatory, Wrath Post: No Hell, all will go to Heaven, False Confidence.

Major decline in Jesuits and this order practiced: dissent, disobedience, and decline

Rise of liberal bishops especially in the US Church such as perhaps the worst bishop of the 20th century, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago, who invented the ‘seamless garment’ and other atrocities, as well as Cardinal Roger Mahony of LA, Archbishop Weakland of Milwaukee, Bishop Gumbleton of Detroit.

The approval of the Abortion Movement in Roe. V. Wade in 1973 and the sexual revolution

The Homosexual Movement

The Environmental Movement

Major Liturgical Abuses

II. Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters

A once good religious community, that wanted a bunch of changes: a bunch of small communities, less Mass and Divine Office, no habit, get rid of their religious names, less teaching and more social work.

They flat-out told Cardinal McIntyre , that they would NOT teach over 35 students.

They took the opinions of wacko priests and psychologists about Vatican II (like most people) and never read the documents.

They openly fought the Cardinal, and he gave them two options: Obey or Leave.

They all left the community in 1968.

III. Contraception

There are three kinds of Contraception: Surgical, Artificial and Natural, all are intrinsic evils condemned in the New and Old Testaments.

In the 1960’s almost all Christians though that ‘the pill’ was OK, but just 60 years earlier, all Christians were against it. At the Lambeth Conference in England, the Anglican Communion approved contraception for use in their Church, becoming the first Christians to approve it.

By 1960 only the RCC opposed contraception

Saint John XXIII began a papal commission on population in the early 60’s, but he soon died and Paul VI took over this work.

80% of the Commission (doctors, lay, priests, theologians), approved of contraception and reported this to the Pope.

Many people in the Church seriously began believing that the Church was about to change its teaching, and many priests got on the band wagon preaching on this, getting people excited. This news was leaked out of the commission to the general public and spread further through the media.

In 1968, Pope Paul VI turned 180 degrees around the issued ‘Humane Vitae” (Life of Humans), and ratted out the evils of contraception and abortion, throwing people who had been told that contraception was about to be usable, into a panic

Priests in order to not injure their pride, still taught Pro-contraception beliefs, which lead to a division between conservatives for the Pope and Liberals.

Paul VI Predictions about if Contraception was to be widespread were:

1. Lowering of Moral Standards.

2. More impurities

3. Abuse of women as objects

IV. Father Charles Curran

He was a professor at CUA and a pro-contraception dissenter

In 1967 the Board of Trustees at CUA (bishops) denies to reinstate him, but the students and professors up rise and say they will quit the school if he gets kicked out. So, the bishops let him stay. This was seen as a major liberal victory.

He soon made a statement with 600 signatures of laity, clergy and bishop denying Humanae Vitae.

In 1969 Cardinal O’Boyle of DC, disciplined 19 dissenting priests, but these priests appealed to the Congregation for Clergy in Rome and were reinstated….this showed goof bishop that even the Vatican Officials are against you. And the there is no punishment for dissenting. Pope Paul VI approved this action in order to not cause a great schism in the American Church. This Action was called the “Truce of 1968”

In 1984, Cardinal Ratizinger publically calls Curran a dissenter.

Two years later Cardinal Hickey of DC, tells Curran he cdan no longer teach in his diocese.

After 30 years, the Board of Trustees finally kicks Curran out of office.

He is currently a Professor at Southern Methodist University

V. Clerical Abuse Crisis

This crisis of priests abusing boys mostly 11-17 is a result of the dissent.

In the seminary in the 50’s homosexual behavior was seen as “not a big deal”

2% of priests of the time did these acts

Most cases were in the 1970’s

This issue was covered up by bishop and no one believed the victims because “Oh, Father would never do that”

If a wacko psychologist said the a priest was fit for office, the bishop said OK

2002 the Crisis of Boston arose where the public was able to see files for the first time.

At the Council of Dallas in 2002, priests needed to be better checked, victims healed, seminarians needed better formation, and ‘0 tolerance’ for offenders

The price was many lost souls, resigning bishops, the lack of trust in future priests, $2 billion in payout including $720 million in LA. And $100 millions in OC. Dioceses were bankrupted such as Wellington, Portland and Spokane.

The Good after Vatican II

The Rise of the Pro-Life Movement: Before Roe v. Wade the movement was just a bunch of rich Catholic people. In 1967 the ‘National Right to Life Commission’ was started. It has been said that it was the Catholic Church that created the Pro-Life Movement, and without it would not exist. The Culture of Life term was coined by JP2 in WYD in Denver in 1993, and is now the slogan of the movement.

Followers

About Me

Hello, my name is Joseph, and I am an avid hiker, backpacker and overall outdoorsman. I most importantly also keep my Catholic Faith closer to me than anything. As I live in Southern California most of my hikes are from that region, but I also enjoy exploring other places throughout the American West when I can, such as the Sierra Nevada, Northern California, the Rockies,the Cascades, the Southwest and the Black Hills. When I'm not on a peak or scrambling though a canyon I'm preparing for my next adventure! Enjoy God's Natural Wonders, that He created for us to explore!